Helen Mayfield
Template:Short description Template:Infobox artist Helen Burkhart Mayfield (1939–1997) was an American artist from Texas.
Mayfield was born in Houston and raised in Blanco, Texas.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After graduating from high school, she attended South West Texas State University, where she majored in art and met her future husband, Martin Mayfield.<ref name=":0" /> Before moving back to Austin, Texas, the two lived in New York City, where they took part in various Broadway productions. After returning to Texas, Mayfield taught modern dance, established the Renaissance Market, for people to sell their art and handicrafts, and produced many drawings and paintings.<ref name=":0" />
In 1964, she worked as an assistant occupational therapist in the psychiatric institution where Eddie Arning was committed. Mayfield is responsible for introducing Arning to painting and encouraging his talents.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1965, Mayfield organized the first showing of Arning's art, introducing him to the art world.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In the 1980s, Mayfield began living on the streets and would clothe herself in different costumes and fabrics and performing street art.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":0" />